5 Reasons Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Could Be a Game of the Year Contender

2018’s Kingdom Come: Deliverance was a huge hit upon release, giving gamers a true medieval RPG to sink their teeth into. The sequel expands upon all the mechanics and world of the first game, with some meaty first-person combat, a revenge-soaked tale, and a lush immersive world to explore. We got hands-on with the latest release to highlight 5 things you need to know about the upcoming sequel:

A bigger, more ‘alive’ world

The first KC game delivered a pretty expansive and deep world rife for exploring, but KC2 raises the bar even further, with more towns, castles, valleys, and areas to discover, fight in, and familiarise yourself with. Each area feels extremely unique — from lush fields and forest areas to muddy villages and forts — and getting around on horseback is easy too, and gives you an elevated view of the lands you’ll be questing around in. Throw in the fact that there is meticulous attention to detail paired with some stunning visuals, and you’ve got a really captivating world to match the adventure that awaits.

Slicker combat

The combat was admittedly a bug-bear of some who played the first game, but it has been improved upon for the sequel. Sword fighting now feels a whole lot more responsive, and a reworked parry mechanic allows for more intuitive dodges and blocking, making sword-fights feel like an exciting dance rather than a chore you avoid.

Sneaky sausage

With all the metal clanging and horses galloping, one doesn’t often associate Medieval games aren’t often associated with stealth. However, KC2 features a world that is conducive to going into missions quietly. You can hide in tall grass and water, throw stones and whistle to manipulate enemies, and take down guards silently with your knife, not to mention the ability to wear disguises and change clothes to fool NPCs.

Crimes and punishment

Kingdom Come 2 has also evolved the crime and reputation system from the first entry. You’ll need to be smart with how you undertake your journey, as stealing from or killing NPCs can have a huge effect on how the other characters in the world see you. If caught by the guards, you can even be thrown in jail, requiring you to barter your way out, or fail and even be hung by those you’ve wronged. It’s impressive how deeply woven into the game the action and reaction system is, and you’ll have to weigh up whether breaking the law will aid your quest or make it worse.

Stronger narrative

The story in the first Kingdom Come: Deliverance was intriguing, but with fair criticism in tow, was delivered in a slightly ‘wooden’ fashion during cut-scenes and dialogue moments. The sequel really adds a cinematic element to the story and facial animations and dialogue have been given a huge bump. We’re excited to see where the story of Henry and his rebellion against Emperor Sigismund goes.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 hits PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on 4 February 2025.